How to get sticky residue off a fridge?

cambsno

cambsno

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Daughter had stuck what we thought were fridge magnets on it - there for a while, left half on!!! Best way to remove without damaging surface?

IMG_1762 by snowens, on Flickr
 
Sticky Stuff Remover - found in Lakeland Plastics' catalogue. Petroleum based solvent stuff that does what it says on the tin.
 
Acetone. Be careful, it's highly flammable.
 
Undiluted citrus degreaser available from cycle shops

Cigarette lighter petrol also works quite well
 
Think you can put white vinegar on it, leave for a few minutes be fore wiping. Though check on Internet before trying this.
 
Nod said:
Sticky Stuff Remover - found in Lakeland Plastics' catalogue. Petroleum based solvent stuff that does what it says on the tin.
Click to expand...
As said - this
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/content/documents/Sticky_Stuff_Remover_8976.pdf

It's the commercial branding of the Solv-it/servisol sticky label remover, which might be a cheaper way of buying it
https://clickandkeyboard.com/af-lableclene-200ml-lable-remover.html?gclid=COvZsM_w1sICFdQZtAodmjQAHg

Got a maplins nearby for todays purchase?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-label-remover-200ml-n63an
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/servisol-label-remover-200ml-ap98g?gclid=CPXGs5Lx1sICFYkBwwod8BAAMg
 
White spirits.

Acetone (I.e. Nail varnish remover), any solvent will quite possibly damage the finish.
 
Depends what the fridge surface is made of, try warm water soaking what looks like paper/glue stuff and a finger nail or fairly blunt plastic scraper.
 
Another vote for WD40 here, brilliant stuff!
 
Steep said:
Depends what the fridge surface is made of, try warm water soaking what looks like paper/glue stuff and a finger nail or fairly blunt plastic scraper.
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We have the same fridge in our kitchen, it's a lacquered plastic finish, made to look like Stainless steel. I'd also be very careful with scraping as it does mark easily.
 
All of the above will work. For this sort of thing I tend to soak with something like a Detol multi purpose spray. As it's a vertical surface you will probably need to keep reapplying.
 
I've got some of the Lakeland stuff, it's made from citrus and works well and would possibly be less damaging than other solvents. It lasts well, I've had mine for nearly ten years!
 
Buy some fridge magnets and cover up the marks with them. Because that muck isn't going to be removed from that surface without leaving some residue or damage.
 
Brake & Clutch cleaner, worth trying just for the smell. :)
 
AngleGrinder.jpg
 
White spirit will leave an oily residue behind. Meths is better, WD40 should work also.
 
Good idea Mark, but id suggest a fine paper sanding disk, rather than the cutting disk. ;)
 
White spirit is the base for WD40, and either should work fine, or that cleaner from lakeland.
 
You'll probably find that the manual for the fridge will tell you how to clean it safely. If it's a lacquered plastic finish like ViciC says, it's dodgy using quite a few solvents like WD40, white spirit and nail varnish remover. I'd be sticking to the soapy water and citrus brigade to see how I got on first.
 
Neil B said:
Looks like a cleaning job, I'll go ask the Mrs and report back :exit:
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Mine would not have a clue - she would ask me.
I would use a really sharp blade to remove the bulk of it, then use an alcohol based cleaner to remove the rest.
 
I would normally say Tardis but no idea how it would affect the finish.
 
Autoglym tar and bug remover soaked into cotton wool balls and left on it to soak in.
 
Incidentally......has said child been suitably flogged and "de-christmas"ed yet ? ;)
 
White spirit or any of the fakes, meths, alcohol, Tar remover/label remover (same stuff usually), petrol, lighter fluid, proper automotive thinners (will probably destroy the finish of the fridge!) acetone (same warning) nail varnish remover will all do the job. Wouldn't bother with WD40, it's not anywhere near as strong as the aforementioned and will leave a residue that will itself need cleaning up. (So will nail varnish remover if it's got any kind of additives like moisturisers and other girly crap)

I use nail varnish remover at work because we sell it and it does the job, but it's such a watered down product it takes forever! Keep threatening to bring in my automotive thinners and gas everyone out of the building...
 
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So in summary:

Acetone, alcohol, lighter fluid, meths, white spirit, tar remover, label remover, steam, soapy water, vinegar, dettol spray, citrus degreaser, brake & clutch cleaner.

WD40 is fantastic....except when it's rubbish and leaves a residue.

Use something very sharp and something very blunt.

Failing that use a blowtorch and/or an angle grinder or cotton wool balls.

Brilliant :D
 
Buy a new fridge...
 
Glad it worked for you, Simon - always has for us!
 
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